Special Olympics Sweden 

More than sport.

Special Olympics Sweden is part of the Swedish Parasport Federation and we offer a wide range of sports and recreational activities for people with intellectual disabilities. Our aim is to offer everyone the chance of an active life, regardless of their intellectual ability.

To achieve this, we arrange regional, national and international sporting events. We drive the debate on the benefits of inclusion. And we support clubs and associations with both the knowledge and tools they need to develop activities for the target group. Special Olympics Sweden has over 10,000 active athletes. 

An inclusive society benefits everyone

Our organisation is founded on social sustainability. We believe in an inclusive society in which sport develops people with intellectual disabilities and strengthens their self-belief, both as athletes and as people. We are convinced that sport is the best route to improved health and happiness, by offering everyone opportunities to enjoy meaningful leisure activities and the chance to do their best based on their circumstances. Quite simply, we believe in a sporting movement that embraces more people.

However, our purpose is more far-reaching: through sport, we can change society as a whole. We create the conditions for people with intellectual disabilities to participate in several arenas. Our work has a ripple effect; helping to make society more accessible for people with intellectual disabilities is not only good for the target group, but for everyone.

The year in brief

Special Olympics Sweden has had an eventful 2023. Special Olympics School Days, events held at schools for pupils with intellectual disabilities, have activated over 2,000 children and youths, and almost 300 upper-secondary pupils have been trained to lead these activities.

Special Olympics Day – a major event with opportunities to try different sports, visitor programmes and ambassador activities – activated 550 children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

The highpoint of the year was the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023, which attracted 7,000 athletes and 3,000 leaders from around the world, including 41 Swedish competitors. The games offered many moments of sporting joy and community. Present were 90 family members who alternated seminaries with cheering on the athletes from the sidelines. We were also accompanied by 30 representatives of the business community, hospitality industry and the sports movement keen to follow the progress of Special Olympics Sweden.

One of the stakeholders in attendance was Sigma, which recently extended its agreement as main sponsor of Special Olympics Sweden. Sigma has been and remains an important part of the ongoing development of Special Olympics Sweden. An evaluation of the organisation was conducted during the year and the focus is now firmly on the future. Part of our journey of development is the preparation of new and exciting concepts for sporting activity and inclusion.

Website

specialolympics.se

Interview with Linnéa Björndahl

Thanks to Funkisfonden (the Special Athletes Fund) 2019 and Sigma’s role as main sponsor of Special Olympics Sweden since 2020,...

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Special Olympics Sweden 

Special Olympics Sweden is part of the Swedish Parasport Federation and we offer a wide range of sports and recreational activities for people with intellectual disabilities. Our aim is to offer everyone the chance of an active life, regardless of their intellectual ability.

To achieve this, we arrange regional, national and international sporting events. We drive the debate on the benefits of inclusion. And we support clubs and associations with both the knowledge and tools they need to develop activities for the target group. Special Olympics Sweden has over 10,000 active athletes. 

Yearbook 2023 /Involvement /Special Olympics Sweden 

Yearbook 2023 /Involvement /Special Olympics Sweden